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University of Edinburgh (Scottish University)

 Organization

Biography

The University of Edinburgh was established by Royal Charter in 1582. It was originally called Tounis College, when part of a legacy left by Robert Reid, Bishop of Orkney in 1558 had established a college of which the Town Council had gained control to establish a College of Law on the South side of Edinburgh. The inception of the University took place in 1583. In 1617 when King James VI of Scotland (I of England) visited the College it was decreed that the College should change its name to King James' College, although the College continued to use the older title. The first change in the corporate body of the University was not until 1935 when the first merger took place. This was between the Faculty of Divinity of the University of Edinburgh and New College. This was due to the re-union of the Church of Scotland in 1932.The next merger was in 1951 when the Royal (Dick) Veterinary School was reconstituted as part of the University of Edinburgh. The Royal (Dick) Veterinary School achieved full faculty status in 1964. In 1998 Moray House Institute of Education became the Faculty of Education.

The first classes of the university were held in Hamilton House known as the Duke's Lodge. In 1582 a site that included St Mary in the Fields was acquired. Many new buildings and extensions were made to the site of Hamilton House after 1616. Two prominent stages of building for the University were those undertaken by Robert Adam and William Playfair. In 1869 the site next to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary was acquired. Building on this project was completed by the end of the 19th century. The University today is situated around these areas in the centre of Edinburgh and Kings Buildings and there are also campuses at Holyrood and elsewhere.

Teaching began in 1583 under Robert Rollock, with a four year course in arts to gain a masters of arts. When Rollock was appointed as the first principal of the University, there were four Philosophy regents and one regent of Humanity, whilst Rollock specialized in Divinity. Until the beginning of the 18th century the University remained essentially an Arts College, with a Divinity School attached. Throughout the 17th century the Chairs of Divinity, Oriental Languages, Ecclesiastical History and Mathematics had been created. By the end of the 17th century there was also regular teaching in Medicine, and sporadic teaching in Law. The University was at the centre of European Enlightenment in the 18th century. By 1722 a Faculty of Law had been established. The first medical Chair had been established in 1685 and was closely followed in the first half of the 18th century by six more. Four more medical Chairs were created in the 19th century. New Chairs in other Faculties were not established after 1760 until the latter half of the 19th century when they followed in rapid succession, continuing in the 20th century, which include those produced by the mergers with New College, the Royal (Dick) Veterinary School and Moray House Institute of Education.

The University was governed by the town council until the Universities (Scotland) Act of 1858, when it received self governing status. The archaic teaching and management system of regents was abolished in 1708. The 1858 act dramatically changed the constitution of the University. A University Court and General Council were introduced which decided on matters and management pertaining to the whole University. The Senatus Academicus was already in place before 1858and this managed academic matters, but answered to the Court and Council. This system is still used.

The University of Edinburgh provides validation for a Master of Fine Arts that has run jointly with Edinburgh College of Art since 1943. A joint chair, the Hood Chair of Mining Engineering was established in 1923 with Heriot-Watt College which became Heriot-Watt University.

In 2002, the structure of the university was altered substantially, with the abolition of Faculties and the creation of the College of Humanities & Social Science, the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine and the College of Science & Engineering. Departments were replaced by Schools within each Faculty.

Found in 23 Collections and/or Records:

City and Royal Burgh of Edinburgh development plan: University: Nicolson Street Comprehensive Development Area, 1972

 File
Identifier: PJM/PJMA/EUD/B/1.8.4
Scope and Contents

Set of 4 coloured manuscript themed plans by the City and Royal Burgh of Edinburgh overlaid on an Ordnance Survey 1:1250 scale mosaic base map (90cm x 120cm). One is a zoning map with coloured areas indicated for phases 1-4, each phase taking 5 years. One shows the levels of surveys required in certain areas, one shows electoral ward boundaries and one shows compulsory purchase designations in the area, with total acreages.

Dates: 1972

Development of Bristo Square: discussion notes, 1978

 File
Identifier: PJM/PJMA/EUD/B/5.2
Scope and Contents This file contains discussion notes by Percy Johnson-Marshall, in his role as planning consultant to the University of Edinburgh. These cover the New Pedestrian Square at McEwan Hall ( 1978) and Lothian Street / Potter Row Realignment ( 1978) . Architectural drawings, maps and landscape plans are also included. Some of...
Dates: 1978

Development of Bristo Square: general administration files, 1976-1980

 File
Identifier: PJM/PJMA/EUD/B/5.1
Scope and Contents This file contains the contents of 4 files dealing with the conception, design and development of Bristo Square as part of the University of Edinburgh Comprehensive Development Area (1962). Each file covers an individual year: 1976, 1978, 1979 and 1980. There is no file for 1977. The contents include draft and finished plans, architectural drawings, scenic drawings, reports and plans for an ideas competition. Detailed estimates for the cost of the project are included. Relevant University of...
Dates: 1976-1980

Development of the University of Edinburgh Student Amenity Centre, 1967-1970

 Sub-Series
Identifier: PJM/PJMA/EUD/B/8
Scope and Contents

Development of the University of Edinburgh Student Amenity Centre consists of:


  1. reports and photographs of architectural models, (1967-1970)
  2. University of Edinburgh Student Amenity Centre: architectural drawings, (c1967-1968
  3. plans, (c1967-1968)
Dates: 1967-1970

Edinburgh University Development, 1962

 File
Identifier: PJM/PJMA/EUD/B/1.8.5
Scope and Contents

Set of copy architectural layout plans (75cm x 120 cm) by Ian Burke, Martin & Partners showing the possible comprehensive redevelopment of the University of Edinburgh Campus. These were originally fastened together. The plans at 1:500 scale include a block plan, upper shopping deck level, lower shopping deck level, mezzanine storage level, car park and road layout. A separate sheet shows a set of elevations with scenic drawings

Dates: 1962

George Square Redevelopment: plans: landscape and streetscape, 1964-1965

 File
Identifier: PJM/PJMA/EUD/B/6.6
Scope and Contents Set of plans by Percy Johnson-Marshall Associates relating to the landscape and streetscape details of the development of the George Square area by the University of Edinburgh. The plans include: George Square Gardens: a large scale, hand coloured base layout of George Square Gardens (42cm x 60cm) University of Edinburgh: George Square area: treatment of south and east sides of the...
Dates: 1964-1965

University Comprehensive Development Area map, 1965

 File
Identifier: PJM/PJMA/EUD/B/1.8.9
Scope and Contents

Copy of a land-use plan for the University of Edinburgh Comprehensive Development Area (90cm x 127cm) by the City and Royal Burgh of Edinburgh. Land use parcels are identified by hand applied colour to a base map overlaid on a 1:1250 scale plan of the area. Acreages for the land parcels are given. There is a legend to the colour coding with total acreages for each land type.

Dates: 1965

University / Nicholson (sic) Street comprehensive development, 1963-1964

 File
Identifier: PJM/PJMA/EUD/B/1.8.7
Scope and Contents 2 manuscript street layout plans (63cm x 102cm), by Percy Johnson-Marshall & Associates, for the University of Edinburgh / Nicolson Street Comprehensive Development Area. Detail is restricted to land parcels between street intersections and major buildings. The first plan sub-titled "Acreages and floor areas" contains statistics concerning site area, floor area and plot ratio for each site. The second plan sub-titled "survey of parked vehicles" gives street by street statistics for...
Dates: 1963-1964

University of Edinburgh: "An Expanding University" - exhibition of university development at Adam House, correspondence, papers and photographs, 1960-1984

 File
Identifier: PJM/PJMA/EUD/F/3
Scope and Contents University of Edinburgh: Permanent exhibition of university development at Adam House, correspondence, papers and photographs file consists of: correspondence including notes concerning work required to set-up the exhibition, the possibility of reinstating it and concern about its future. completed information forms concerning the buildings to be profiled in the exhibition ...
Dates: 1960-1984

University of Edinburgh - Bristo Square, 1979

 File
Identifier: PJM/PJMA/EUD/B/5.5.1
Scope and Contents 4 copy 1:200 scale civil engineering plans (83cm x 120cm) showing the Lothian Street / Potterrow junction in Edinburgh, prior to realignment for the creation of Bristo Square. An outline base plan, which has been used to create the other plans in this file, is on a transparancy. A plan (2 copies) showing height measurements [and bore holes] is also on a transparancy. A paper plan subtitled "Existing services" shows the utilities in the area, which would be affected by the construction of...
Dates: 1979